Word Origin & History

funny "humorous," 1756, from fun (q.v.). Meaning "strange, odd" is 1806, said to be originally U.S. Southern. The two senses of the word lead to the retort question "funny ha-ha or funny peculiar," which is attested from 1938. Related: Funnier; funniest. Funny farm "mental hospital" is slang from 1963. Funny bone "elbow end of the humerus" is 1840; funnies "newspaper comic strips" is from 1852.

Example Sentences for funnies

After that came a big dinner, and then a half hour spent with the funnies.

The Sunday supplement has few "funnies" and never any colored pictures.

Jimmie looked at the funnies, and Grandma and Rose-Ellen did the dishes.

Dozia was regarded "an awful joker" and she usually preferred the illustrated brand of funnies.

But I could and did improve the sports page, put in more home-stuff for the women, more society news, funnier 'funnies' and so on.